Chapter Seventy-Five: Yu Qian, the Chief Confidant

Chapter Seventy-Five The Emperor’s Most Trusted Confidant – Yu Qian

Zhu Qizhen said he wished to walk alone, but in truth, who would dare let him? To say nothing of other matters—even if Zhu Qizhen were to slip and fall into the water, not one of them would escape death. Nevertheless, since Zhu Qizhen had spoken, the crowd of hundreds that usually clustered around him thinned considerably, leaving only Shi Jing, Wang Zhen, and Yu Qian to accompany him.

Ruan An, ever sensible, took his men to survey the terrain, choosing where to begin digging the canal to divert water and level the land. After all, the spring plowing was only days away.

Walking by the lakeside, Zhu Qizhen suddenly noticed a large stone jutting abruptly into the water, resembling the head of a turtle. He climbed atop it and said, “Shi Jing, Grand Eunuch Wang, you two wait on the shore. I have words for Master Yu.” Shi Jing obeyed without question and immediately withdrew. Wang Zhen, however, gazed deeply at Yu Qian, as if marking him as someone not to be slighted.

The two men stood at a distance, able to see Zhu Qizhen and Yu Qian’s figures, but unable to hear their words. Wang Zhen, growing anxious, asked Shi Jing, “What do you think His Highness will say to Lord Yu?” Shi Jing replied indifferently, “Who knows? But, Grand Eunuch Wang, His Majesty is the Emperor, not just the young master.” Hearing this, Wang Zhen realized Shi Jing had said nothing at all, but the meaning was clear. In the palace, eunuchs addressed the crown prince as ‘young master’ and the emperor as ‘His Majesty.’ Now, no one else would call Zhu Qizhen ‘young master’—only Wang Zhen did so, from time to time.

While Wang Zhen reflected quietly, the conversation between Zhu Qizhen and Yu Qian turned to serious matters.

Zhu Qizhen asked, “Master Yu, what do you think of Grand Secretary Yang and the late Emperor Renzong?” Yu Qian replied, “Their relationship was a model for all sovereigns and ministers.” Zhu Qizhen said, “When Emperor Renzong was still in the Eastern Palace, he gathered all the talented men of the realm to his side. Alas, Heaven did not grant him more years. The Grand Empress Dowager often recalls Emperor Renzong and instructs me to treat the three grand secretaries with harmony.”

“A sovereign and his ministers in accord,” he mused. “But I am not Emperor Renzong.”

These words tightened Yu Qian’s heart. In just one day at Zhu Qizhen’s side, Yu Qian no longer dared regard him as a mere child. The Emperor, though seemingly powerless, still possessed the natural authority to command the entire court—an authority that resided now with the Grand Empress Dowager.

To Yu Qian’s mind, the Emperor appeared mature, but did not yet know how to wield such power; otherwise, the Grand Empress Dowager could not have restrained him. Should the Emperor ever harbor thoughts against Yang Shiqi and his peers, even if nothing happened immediately, trouble would follow in time. Yu Qian quickly said, “Since the Hongxi reign, the former Eastern Palace ministers have served the state with great merit. Grand Secretary Yang is utterly loyal to Your Majesty.”

At this, Zhu Qizhen smiled and said, “Master Yu, do you take me for a foolish ruler? The three grand secretaries are the pillars of the realm. How could I harbor any ill will toward them? Yet, they are growing old. How many more years can they support me?”

“What I desire is not Grand Secretary Yang himself, but a minister like him—one as close as family within the palace, yet capable of governing the world. Grand Secretary Yang and my father, Emperor Renzong, were an exemplary sovereign and minister, but I do not wish my forebears alone to enjoy such renown. They had the great ministers of the Hongxi and Xuande eras; I must also have a prime minister for the Orthodox reign.”

“Master Yu, you are to be my prime minister.”

Yu Qian fell to his knees. “I would rather die than accept such an honor. Taizu forbade the restoration of the prime minister’s post.”

Zhu Qizhen hurried to lift him up. “Master Yu, there is no need for this. Times have changed, and the world’s affairs today are clearer to you than to me. There are so many things to be done—setting aside all else, just the matter of the military garrisons robs me of sleep each night.”

“If we do not strive for reform, how many more years before the northern barbarians stand under the walls of Beijing?”

Yu Qian replied, “Even so, I dare not bear such a heavy responsibility.”

Zhu Qizhen said, “There is no need for such modesty. Great generals rise from the ranks; prime ministers from the counties. Since you entered service, wherever you governed, the land has been peaceful and the people love you. Do you care only for the people of one place and not the people of the entire realm? Besides, I am still young and years away from ruling in my own right. What I promise is only for the future. Will you not accept this charge?”

Yu Qian said, “I am willing to serve Your Majesty unto death.”

Moved, Yu Qian also understood that, under the current circumstances, even if he wished not to be the Emperor’s confidant, it would be impossible. Who would believe otherwise?

At last, Zhu Qizhen pulled Yu Qian to his feet. “To tell you the truth, the post of Prefect of Shuntian was one I personally requested from the Grand Empress Dowager.”

“Though I am young, I know I cannot be raised in the deep palace, ignorant of the people’s suffering. Only by serving as a local official can one truly understand the hardships of the common folk. I hope you, Master Yu, will govern on my behalf and let the voices of Beijing’s people reach my ears.”

Yu Qian replied, “Upon arriving in Shuntian, I heard of Your Majesty’s policy to replace firewood with coal, for which the capital’s people are deeply grateful. Heaven itself is moved by such benevolence. Yet, in my view, this is not the most urgent matter facing the realm.”

“In the seventy years since our dynasty’s founding, the people’s strength has been restored, and the country is at peace. The most urgent matter now is harmony between the two palaces. As the family prospers, all affairs flourish. Harmony in the Imperial family is the fortune of the empire.”

Zhu Qizhen knew that by ‘the two palaces,’ Yu Qian did not mean the Cining and Kunning Palaces, but rather the Cining Palace and the Palace of Heavenly Purity—the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

For a moment, Zhu Qizhen did not know what to say. To claim there had never been discord between the two palaces—he could not utter such words. Since that day, he had longed to return to the former harmony, yet found it impossible. Sometimes, only those closest to you can truly wound you.

It was the same for Zhu Qizhen. At the Grand Empress Dowager’s side, he would sometimes forget her title and treat her as a grandmother in truth. But when he opened his heart to her, she dealt him a heavy blow, especially when she spoke of deposing him—that wound was genuine.

Even now, when he wished to draw close to her, the memory would rise unbidden, and anything he wished to say must be rehearsed again and again before he could speak. The Grand Empress Dowager could not fail to sense this change, and thus, the distance between them gradually grew. Though Zhu Qizhen still went daily to pay his respects, it was nothing more than a formality—a cup of tea, a few empty words, and he would withdraw.

He knew well that this estrangement was not a good thing, either for politics or for his own heart. Yet, he did not know how to bridge the gap. To abandon his political ideals was out of the question; to feign intimacy, he could not manage.

Yu Qian saw his silence and realized he had struck the heart of the matter. “Your Majesty, can there truly be any deep enmity between grandmother and grandson? Or do you still fear the matter of Prince Xiang?”

Zhu Qizhen said, “It is not that. The matter of Prince Xiang is long past. The Grand Empress Dowager simply does not wish for me to emulate Emperor Taizong in pacifying the northern steppes.”

Yu Qian smiled gently. “Does Your Majesty wish to send troops now?”

“How could I?” Zhu Qizhen replied. “With the military garrisons in their current state, how could we go to war?”

“Then is it worth growing distant from the Grand Empress Dowager over a matter of the future, over something that has not even happened yet?”

Zhu Qizhen sighed. “I have already admitted my fault.”

Many believe that a simple admission of guilt should be enough to win forgiveness. Yet, hearing Zhu Qizhen’s tone, Yu Qian knew his apology had lacked sincerity.

Yu Qian said, “In Your Majesty’s view, does the Grand Empress Dowager truly object to pacifying the northern steppes? Since the founding of our dynasty, the Mongols have been our hereditary foes. Why would she not wish for peace in the north? She forbids it only because she fears Your Majesty cannot yet accomplish it, and that turmoil would result.”

“If Your Majesty proceeds gradually, proving yourself to her, would the Grand Empress Dowager not support you?”

“If Your Majesty so wishes, I am willing to seek an audience with the Grand Empress Dowager and help her untie the knot in her heart.”

Hearing Yu Qian’s words, Zhu Qizhen found reason in them. Though he doubted success, there was no harm in trying. “Then I will leave this matter to you, Master Yu.”